Western Europe, the U.S., and Japan will account for more than 70% of pharmaceutical packaging demand that will drive a 5.5% annual expansion to $62 billion in 2015. That’s the forecast from World Pharmaceutical Packaging, a new study from The Freedonia Group, Inc.

China, says Freedonia, will provide faster growth opportunities based on rapidly expanding pharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities and the phasing-in of an extensive government program designed to upgrade the quality and integrity of nationally produced medicines. India and Brazil will also evolve into fast-growing pharmaceutical packaging markets as drug-producing sectors are upgraded and diversified.

Growth in West European demand will reflect upgraded government standards requiring unit-dose, high-barrier, and anti-counterfeit packaging for various medications. Based on its broad range of proprietary and generic drug producers, Japan will remain a large, diverse consumer of pharmaceutical containers, closures, and related accessories. However, Freedonia notes the country will provide below-average growth opportunities as drug makers pursue greater packaging efficiencies to offset pricing pressures.

Meanwhile, the study says that global demand for primary pharmaceutical containers will increase 5.6% a year to nearly $39 billion in 2015, with prefillable syringes and vials leading the way as advances in biotechnology lead to new therapies that must be injected.

Plastic bottles will remain the most widely used package for oral drugs distributed in bulk and prescription-dose volumes to retail and mail order pharmacies. Bottles will continue to dominate applications in over-the-counter medicines sold in tablet and capsule quantities of 50 or more. Blister packaging will comprise the second-largest selling group of primary pharmaceutical containers based on its adaptability to unit-dose and clinical trial formats with expanded label content, high visibility, and built-in track-and-trace features.

The 528-page World Pharmaceutical Packaging report is available for $6,400 by contacting Corinne Gangloff by phone 440.684.9600, fax 440.646.0484, or e-mail at pr@freedoniagroup.com.